Vexed

Yesterday I was expecting a shipment from BN.com. I used the online tracking system at UPS and found out that the shipment had arrived at our local depot yesterday morning, so I was sure I'd get the package late this afternoon. We get a fair number of deliveries from the photo lab and album company Tab uses, and the truck generally comes after 6 p.m. We were home all evening from 5:30 on, and there was no sign of the UPS truck.

To my surprise, when I checked the online tracking page, I saw that the driver claimed that he attempted a delivery at 6:31, but that no one was home.

"He lied!" I exclaimed to Tab. "He out and out lied. He was probably running behind schedule and didn't even bother stopping."

Tab thought I was getting worked up over nothing. He was probably right, but it irked me.

Someone else provoked me today. Rita came over to watch the boys while I went to lunch with my close friend. Afterward, being footloose and childfree, I thought I'd treat myself to some book browsing and a cup of tea. In the café at Borders, I stopped in front of the glass case and looked at the desserts. The caramel brownies were calling my name.

The counter person, who took her time before meandering over to wait on me, reached for the first brownie on the plate, which also happened to be the smallest.

"Um, could I have that one next to it, please?" If I'm going to pay $2.25 for a brownie, I'd like to have one a little bigger.

"They're all the same size," she said.

"That one looks pretty small."

She put the brownie I wanted on a plate. "They come to us pre-cut. They're all the same size."

Why was she arguing with me? I've worked in retail and in food service, and I would never argue with a customer, particularly over something so meaningless.

Instead of lingering over the brownie and tea, enjoying my time off, I ended up bolting my food so I could get out of there. I had picked up a couple of children's books that I had been planning to buy for the boys, but I was too nettled to think of giving any more money to that store.

On the way out, I stopped by the information desk and asked to speak to a manager. She turned out to be a very nice woman who was extremely apologetic, assuring me that she would talk to the counter employee.

"You know, I'm a stay-at-home mother, and I don't get out without my kids that often," I said. "When I do, I want to enjoy myself and not end up in an argument with someone over a brownie."

"You're right, that shouldn't have happened. I'll see that it doesn't happen again," she answered.

I felt a little better after talking to the manager. There was a time when I wouldn't have bothered, but I've grown weary of rudeness and discourtesy. As a paying customer and as a human being, I don't deserve to be treated like that.

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